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A crash raises five different questions at once: is anyone hurt, who has to be told, what has to be filed, how fast do I need care, and when does the clock run out. The table puts each one next to the Florida rule that answers it.
What to do, in order
| Your situation | What to do | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Anyone is hurt or killed | Call 911. | Injury or death triggers the reporting duty below |
| Injury, death, or apparent damage of at least $2,000 | The driver must notify police immediately, by the quickest means. In a city that is the city police; otherwise the county sheriff or Florida Highway Patrol. | Fla. Stat. 316.065(1) |
| Damage to a vehicle or property and no law enforcement report is required | Submit a written crash report to the state within 10 days. | Fla. Stat. 316.066(1)(e) |
| An officer investigates | Give the officer proof of insurance. If you cannot, give it to the agency within 24 hours and the citation may be voided. | Fla. Stat. 316.066(1)(d) |
| Any injury, even a mild one | Get initial medical care within 14 days to keep PIP medical benefits. | Fla. Stat. 627.736(1)(a); see the 14-day PIP rule |
| You want to sue | Two years for a negligence action. | Fla. Stat. 95.11(5)(a); see the deadline timetable |
A statement you make to an officer for a required crash report generally cannot be used as evidence in a civil or criminal trial, except as the statute provides (Fla. Stat. 316.066(4)).
Who answers where
The agency depends on where the crash happened, not where you live.
| Where | Agency | Number | Online |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unincorporated Lee County (Lehigh Acres, San Carlos Park, Estero) | Lee County Sheriff's Office dispatch | (239) 477-1000 | Online accident report form for minor collisions |
| Cape Coral | Cape Coral Police Department | (239) 574-3223 to file a report | Records through the CCPD public portal |
| Fort Myers | Fort Myers Police Department | See the department page | Obtain a copy of a report |
| Unincorporated Collier County | Collier County Sheriff's Office | (239) 252-9300 | Driver self-report if the crash qualifies |
| Charlotte County (Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda area) | Charlotte County Sheriff's Office | (941) 639-2101 | ccso.org |
| Anywhere, for a copy of a report | Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles | See how to get a crash report | Florida Crash Portal |
Numbers were read from each agency's own site on November 14, 2026. Call 911 for injuries, a blocked roadway or a hit-and-run in progress; the numbers above are for reports, not emergencies.
After the scene
- Insurance. Report the crash to your own insurer promptly and read your policy for its notice terms. If another driver was uninsured or underinsured, read what your own policy may cover.
- Medical care. The 14-day PIP window runs from the accident, not from when symptoms get worse. See the PIP rule.
- The report. Reports can take up to 10 days to appear, and the personal details in them are confidential for 60 days except to the people involved and a short list of others. See how to get yours.
- Deadlines. The timetable lists every clock in one place.
When a lawyer enters the picture
Whether you have a claim, who was at fault, and what a case is worth are legal questions that depend on facts a guide cannot see. Florida bars a plaintiff who is more than 50 percent at fault from recovering damages (Fla. Stat. 768.81(6)), so how fault is described early on matters.
Kazaam publishes a claim deadline calculator that shows your lawsuit deadline from your accident date, and guides on what to do after a car accident and talking to the insurance adjuster. Disclosure: Kazaam (kazaam.ai) is a marketing and lead-connection service operated alongside SWFL.now by Neural Command, LLC. It is not a law firm and does not give legal advice, and its attorney-connection form is free to use. We have a business interest in it. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Sources
- Florida Statutes 316.065, crashes and reports.
- Florida Statutes 316.066, written reports of crashes.
- Florida Statutes 627.736, PIP benefits.
- Florida Statutes 95.11 and Florida Senate summary of HB 837 (2023).
- Florida Statutes 768.81, comparative fault.
- Agency pages linked in the table, read November 14, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I have to call the police after a car accident in Florida?
- Yes if the crash caused injury or death or damage of at least $2,000 to any vehicle or property. The driver must notify the local police if the crash is in a city, otherwise the county sheriff or the Florida Highway Patrol, immediately and by the quickest means, under Florida Statutes 316.065(1).
- What if the crash is minor and the police do not come?
- The driver of a vehicle in a crash that damaged a vehicle or property and does not require a law enforcement report must send a written report to the state (FLHSMV) within 10 days, under Florida Statutes 316.066(1)(e). The Collier County Sheriff and Lee County Sheriff both offer an online self-report for minor crashes.
- How soon do I need to see a doctor after a car accident in Florida?
- Within 14 days if you want Florida PIP to pay medical benefits. The statute pays medical benefits only when the injured person receives initial services and care within 14 days after the accident.
- How long do I have to sue after a car accident in Florida?
- Two years for an action founded on negligence, under Florida Statutes 95.11(5)(a). HB 837 cut the period from four years for causes of action accruing after March 24, 2023, so older web pages that say four years are out of date.
- Who do I call for a car accident in Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples or Punta Gorda?
- Call 911 for injuries. For a non-emergency report, use the agency for where the crash happened: Cape Coral Police 239-574-3223, Lee County Sheriff dispatch 239-477-1000 (unincorporated Lee), Collier County Sheriff 239-252-9300 (unincorporated Collier), Charlotte County Sheriff 941-639-2101. Inside Fort Myers and Naples, use that city's police department.